Steam and hot-water heater.



PATENTBD NOV. 21, 1905.

J. E. FROST. STEAM AND HOT WATERHBATER.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14, 1905.

CL S S E N H W PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

J. E. FROST.

STEAM AND HOT WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.14, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

INVENTOR gwkw m WITNESSES:

M G ATTORN EY PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

J. B. FROST. STEAM AND HOT WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.14, 1905 4 SHEETS-SHBBT 3.

INVENTOR gmiqmw mw ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

No. 805,354. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

J. E; FROST.

STEAM AND HOT WATER HEATER. APPLICATION FILED JAN.14, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

M n I Ml M j illn;

WITNESSES: INVENTOR Z/l/L 5AM 9v\\om8:}m&

BY C 7m I ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN EMORY FROST, OF WATKINS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ELMIRA HEATER COMPANY, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK.

STEAM AND HOT-WATER HEATER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed January 14, 1905. Serial 110,241,033.

Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in boilers of the vertical sectional type, such as are used in connection with steam or hot-water heating systems; and the object of my present invention is, primarly, to improve the heater described in my Letters Patent No. 660,213, granted October 23, 1900, by embodying the outer shell or casing of the boiler in the sections themselves in such manner as to provide a water-containing jacket for the heater and in so constructing the individual sections that when they are assembled certain improvements will be attained in the circulation of the gases of combustion and larger heating-surfaces will be presented to the circulating gases, thereby attaining a greater efliciency'in the operation of the boiler.

I attain my object by means of the arrangement and construction of the several parts of the heater, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a heater embodying my improvements; Fig. 2, afront elevation of one of the intermediate sections shown in perspective; Fig. 3,*a rear elevation of the backsection of the heater; Fig. 4, a

front elevation of the same; Fig. 5, a hori-v zontal transverse'section of the heater on the line 00 w in Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a similar section on the line 3 y in Fig. 4; Fig. 7, a side elevation of the back section; Fig. 8, a perspective View of one of the intermediate sections cut in-half, and Figs. 9 to 13 details showing modifications in the horizontal baffle or fine plates placed in the side fines. v

Like numerals designate like parts in the several views.

The heater consists of front and back sections with a number of intermediate sections all resting upon a base, which may be either separate from the sections or formed integrally therewith and which contains the grate and ash-pit. The intermediate sections 1 are formed with the water-legs 11, which rest on the top of the base 2. Above the water-legs the sides of the sections are expanded and form outwardly-overhanging side water spaces which rise vertically to the top of the heater. These side water-spaces are divided into two parts 12 and 14: by vertical fines 20 and 21, which pass through the sections. The inner parts 12 of these side water-spaces are connected by a central water-space 13 of less thickness and preferably of a V-shaped cross- .section, said central water-space increasing in thickness as it approaches the top of the section. The side water-spaces are connected at the top by an upper water or steam space 16, which forms the crown of the heater. This upper connecting water or steam space is of the same thickness as the side water-spaces, and at each side of the center the fines 19 pass through it, said fines communicating with the side flues 20.

At 18 recesses are formed in the side walls of the upper connecting spaces 16 below the fines 19, forming when the sections are assembled narrow outlets for the products of combustion from the spaces between the central portions of the sections into the top flnes.

At 15 cross connections are formed between the parts 12 and 14 of the side water-spaces at the upper ends thereof or near the junction of the fines 19 with the fines 20. these cross connections forming tie connections and circulating-passages between the parts of the side water-spaces and also constricting the passages leading from the fines 19 to the fines 20, for a purpose hereinafter set forth. These 7 cross or tie connections may be made solid instead of hollow, as here shown, or they may be omitted altogether. The vertical side flues 20 act as diving-fines, and the fines 21 act as,

laterals to conduct the gases back to the smokebox. They may be divided into two distinct flues by horizontal baffle or flue plates run.- ning forward from the rear section of the heater.

WVhere the heater is to be used without maniopenings 17 and 26 will be stopped off in forming the sections, and the sections will be connected at the sides and top to the manifolds in the usual way by lock-nut nipples coupled to screw-threaded openings at 9 in the top and sides. The heater, as represented in Fig. 1, is arranged for ahot-water or steam system without manifolds, the main circulating-pipes being connected directly into the openings 9 at the top of the sections and the return-pipes being connected to the water-legs of certain of the sections at the side openings 9, the side openings in the water-legs of the other sections being plugged or stopped off in forming the sections, as indicated at 10. The feedwater connection will be made preferably in the water-leg of the front section at 8. The sections are held together by means of staggered bolts 5 and 7, passed through lugs 1 and 6, formed upon the sides-of the water-legs and the top or crown of the sections, respectively. Where each section is an individual and separate unit, with connections running out from the top and sides to manifolds, the sections will be held together by said manifolds, and the bolt connections 5 and 7 will not be required.

To form the joints between the sections, I provide ribs 23, 2 1, and 25 on one half of one face of the sections, the surface of the other half of the face of the section being left plain, and on the opposite face 1 provide the same arrangement of ribbed and plane surfaces, the ribbed surface, however, on the reverse face being positioned opposite the plane surface of the front face. By this arrangement the ribbed surfaces on the sections are brought up against plane surfaces on the adjacent sections regardless of which way the sections are placed in setting up the heater. On the part 12 of the side water-spaces the ribs 23 and 25 form between them a vertical groove in which a rope, of asbestos or other packing, is placed when setting the sections together, said rope being brought out to the side in the groove between the ribs 24 and 25. This packing is of a thickness sufficient to fill the space between the abutting sections and to be placed under compression when the sections are brought up together, so as to make a tight joint between the central flue-spaces and the side fiues 20 and 21. After the sections are set up and coupled together the spaces between the sections around the outside are filled in with plastic asbestos or other packing, the ribs 25 preventing said packing from running into the fines 19, 20, and 21 and the lower portions of the ribs 23 in like manner preventing the packing from running in past the waterlegs 11.

The front section of the heater on its back or inside face is similar in form to the half of one of the intermediate sections, while its front face is a plane surface, being similar in this respect to the back section, as shown in Figs. 3 and 1. It is provided with flues at the top and sides, which open into the flues 19, 20, and 21, these flue-openings being closed by doors 29 and 30, which can be opened for the purpose of cleaning said flues when occasion requires. At 28 the front sectionis provided with the usual fire-door surrounded by the central water-space which extends down between the water-legs to the base. The base is provided on its front 3 with the usual ashdoor and draft-damper.

The back section 31 of the boiler corresponds on its front or inside faceto one-half of one of the intermediate sections, having the same side water-spaces and upper connecting water and steam spaces, the side water-spaces being connected by a central water-space 33, which at its lower extremity is continued downward to form the central water-space 34:, which passes across between the waterlegs 11. The rear face of this back section is a plane surface with the flues 19, 20, and 21 passing through it. These flue-openings are .inclosed bya smoke-box 12, which is fastened to the back section by means of bolts passing through lugs 43 on the smoke-box and lugs 32 on the back section, the bottom flange of the smoke-box being held in place and supported by lugs 47, formed on the back section. Vertical baffle-plates 36 are inserted at the back of the fines 19 and 20 and secured in place by bolts passing through lugs formed on the cross connections 15. These vertical baffle-plates extend a short distance up the flues 19, so as to give the proper draft-outlets therefrom, and they extend down the fiues 20 to the point where the horizontal baffle or flue plates are located or to the point of division between fiues 20 and 21.

The horizontal baffle or flue plates 38 are placed on lugs 22, formed on the side walls of the side water-spaces at the junction of fines 20 and 21 and extend forward from the rear bafiie-plates 36 toward the front of the heater. These baffle-plates are made in short pieces and fit the angles between sections, and some may be broken off shorter thanothers, so as to form alternating flue-spaces between plates, as at 18, where half the bafiie-plate is broken out to form an opening between fiues 20 and 21 at this point. At 19, farther forward, an entire plate is omitted to give a larger opening. In this way openings between the baffle-plates may be formed of varying widths, so as to evenly distribute the flow of gases down the diving-fines from the rear to the extreme front of the heater. Another form for these baffleplates is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Here the plates each have an aperture inclosed by the side and cross bars 51 and 52, projecting from the body 50 of the plates, so that each plate abuts against its neighbor to prevent displacement. A solid half-plate 38 fills the space next the vertical baffle-plate 36 in the rear section, the corresponding space in the front section being left open, so as to give alarger opening between the side fiues at this point. It will be understood that more or less of these bafiieplates will be used according to the number of sections in the heater and that they may not be carried forward as far as the front section.

If it is found desirable to provide adjustable apertures between the baffie-plates, I may place a sliding retarding-damper above the plates, as shown in Fig. 12. This damper is preferably made up of sectional apeitured plates, one of which is shown in Fig. 11, said plates having a body part 53, corresponding in width to the body portion 50 of'the baflieplates and having the aperture framed by the side and cross bars 54 and 55. The plates are locked together by dovetail tongues 56 and notches 57 or by other suitable connecting devices. By this form of construction the damper may be built up according to the length of the heater or to the number of baffie-plates it is to cover, and it may be lengthened or shortened to meet requirements. After the damper is in place it may be adjusted by opening the door 29 and moving it forward or back. The extreme retarding adjustment is indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 12. I

Instead of using separate bafiie-piates I may cast them with the sections in the form of cross-fins, as shown at 58 and 59 in Fig. 13, the fin 59 in the back section extending back to the baffle-plate 36. The lugs 60 on the intermediate sections and lugs 61 on the front section form guideways for the damper. If larger apertures are required at certain points, the fins in any of the sections may be broken out in setting up the heater.

The outlets from the flues 19 are closed by a damper 37 hung from the rod 40, at one end of which a transverse bar 41 is attached, by which the damper may be held open or shut by placing a weight on one side or the other in the notches thereon. The smokepipe is coupled to the smoke-box by means of the collar 44:, and a damper for regulating the draft is located at 45.

46 represents a clean-out plate, which is to be opened only when cleaning the heater.

When the heater is fired, the gases and other products of combustion rising from the firebox (which is formed by the water-legs 11 and the arched bottoms of the central waterspaces 13) pass directly upward through the gradually-diminishing spaces between said central water-spaces and through the narrow passages formed by the recesses 18 into the upper flues 19. From these flues the gases will pass directly back into the smoke-box when the damper 37 is opened. In case said damper is closed the gases from the flues 19 will pass down into the side diving fiues 20 and thence out into the smoke-box by way of the lower flues 21. By reason of the constricted passages between the flues 19 and 20, caused by the cross connections 15, the gases in descending from the flues 19 will be caused to be distributed along the sides of the heater, since they will be prevented by reason of said constricted passages from all passing back and down through the rearmost flues. In case it is found that the gases are passing too freely to the rear of the heater the horizontal baffle-plates may be inserted to a greater or less extent and with apertures adjusted to properly distribute the gases, the gases taking the course indicated by the arrows in Figs. 5 and 6. In the smaller sizes of heaters the baflie-plates may be dispensed with entirely where the constricted passages between the cross connections 15 are found to cause a sufificiently even distribution of the gases along the sides of the heater in passing from the flues 19 to the lower side flues 21. By this arrangement of the heater-sections an extremely large heating-surface is presented to the fire and to the circulating gases of combustion. Moreover, by arranging the upper connecting water or steam spaces 16 with the flues 19 passing therethrough, into which flues the gases come directly from the fire through the passages formed by the recesses 18, this upper connecting space is converted into a superheating-space, adding thereby greatly to the efiiciency of the heater. The outer portions 14: of the side water-spaces form waterjackets for the heater, the inner surfaces of said water-jackets deriving heat directly from the circulating gases as they pass down and through the flues 20 and 21. The inner waterspaces 12 are heated on both sides, first by the hot gases as they rise directly from the firebox and again by the downwardly-circulating gases through the flues 20 and 21. It will therefore be evident that these large heatingsurfaces are brought by my construction into contact with the circulating gases of combustion to the best advantage for the purpose of heating and superheating the water or steam contained in the individual heater-sections.

Variations in the details of construction and form of the sections may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, providing the arrangement of the flues and waterspaces as specified is maintained. Instead of making the vertical baffle-plates 36 separate they may be formed as integral parts of the back section, and the flue-outlets formed by said bafile-plates into the smoke-box at the top and sides of the heater may be varied according to the requirements.

Having thus described my improved heater, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a steam or hot-water heater, the combination of a plurality of similarly-formed sections, each section comprising vertical side water-spaces, an upper water or steam space connecting the side water-spaces and of the same thickness, a central water-spaceOf less thickness extending bet-ween the side waterspaces and communicating therewith and with the upper connectingspace, vertical flues IIO passing through from front to rear and dividing the side water-spaces into two parts, flues passing through the upper connecting space from front to rear at each side of the center and communicating with the side flues, and recesses in the side walls of the upper connecting spaces below the top flues to form, when the sections are assembled, outlets for the products of combustion from the spaces between the sections into the top and side 2. In asteam or hot-water heater, the combination of aplurality of similarly-formed sections, each section comprising vertical side water-spaces, an upper water or steam space connecting the side water-spaces and of the same thickness, a central water-space of less thickness extending between the side waterspaces and communicating therewith and with the upper connecting space, vertical flues passing through from front to rear and dividing the side water-spaces into two parts, flu es passing through the upper connecting space from front to rear at each side of the center and communicating with the side flues, cross connections between the two parts of the side water-spaces constricting the passage from the top flues to the side flues, and recesses in the side walls of the upper connecting spaces below the top flues to form, when the sections are assembled, outlets for the products of combustion from the spaces between the sections into the top and side flues.

3. In a steam or hot-water heater, the combination with a base containing a grate and ash-pit, of a vertical sectional boiler made up of front and back sections and one or more intermediate sections resting upon said base, each intermediate section comprising waterlegs at the sides rising from said base, an upper water or steam space connecting said side water-spaces and of the same thickness, a central water-space of less thickness extending from the side water-spaces, forming a fire-box above the grate and communicating with the side water-spaces and the upper connecting space, vertical flues passing through the side water-spaces from front to rear above the water-legs and dividing said spaces into two parts, flues passing through the upper connecting space from front to rear at each side of the center and communicating with the side flues, recesses in the side walls of the upper connecting space below the top flues to form, when the sections are assembled, outlets for the products of combustion from the spaces between the sections into the top and side flues, corresponding top and side flues in the back section, a smoke-box secured to said back section and inclosing the ends of said flues, and a damper to shut off direct communication from the top fines to the smoke-box.

4:. In a steam or hot-water heater, the combination with a plurality of vertical sections, each having intercommunicating top and side flues at each side of the center and reduced central portions forming ducts between the sections into the top flues when the sections are assembled, of a back section having corre flues at eachside of the center and reduced,

central portionsforming ducts between the sections into the top flues when the sections are assembled, of a back section having corresponding top and side flues, a smoke-box secured to said back section, and inclosing the ends of said flues, vertical baffle-plates on each side of the back section closing off intermediate portions of said flues, horizontal baffleplates extending forward from said vertical baffle-plates through the side flues in a portion of the sections, and a damper to shutoff direct communication from the top flues to the smoke-box.

6. In a steam or hot-water heater, the combination with a plurality of vertical sections having vertical side flues extending from front to rear with an outlet for gases from thelower portions of the side flues, of horizontal baffleplates with interspersed apertures in said flues above the outlet and a sectional apertured retarding-damper adapted to slide over said plates.

7. In a steam or hot-water heater, the combination with a plurality of vertical sections having vertical side flues extending from front to rear with an outlet for gases from the lower portions of the side flues, of horizontal tame, plates with interspersed apertures in said flues above the outlet, and adamper made up of interlocking apertured plates adapted to slide over said baflie-plates.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN EMORY FROST.

Witnesses:

M. E. VERBEoK, A. S. DIVEN. 

